Machine for making plaster-boards.



P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARDS.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.] 010 Model.)

Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

6 Sheets$heet I.

WITNESSES: wflker W "I" H E nun H's E A TTOHNEYS N0. 690,!89. PatentedDBO. 3|, I90l.

P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKiNG PLASTER BOARDS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IN VENTOR [Application filed May 4, 1901.)

WITNESSES THE Norms Puma c0. Pam-puma wnsummow, o c.

No. 691M539. Patented Dec. 3|, l90l, P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARDS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

N VE N 70/? faZra'eZ fiyan WITNESSES ATTORNEYS "m: NORRIS wz'rzns, on.mom Q0411. wAsmncrom n. c.

Patented Dec. 3|, I901.

P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARDS.

{Application filed May4,1901.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Fig?! D v n o a,

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P. RYAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARDS.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

(No Model.) A 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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PATRICK RYAN, OF NE? YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLASTER-BOARDS.

SPEQIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,189, dated December31, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1901- Serial No. 58,742. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, PATRICK RYAN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine forMaking Plaster-Boards, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to a machine for forming fireproof boards for usein buildings, the boards being produced from alternate layers of asuitable fabric and a plastic material, such as ordinary plaster.

The invention constitutes an improvement over that patented by me July17, 1900, No. 654,021.

This specification is a specific description of one form of theinvention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 2 isapartial longitudinal section of the machine, showing the section nextcontiguous to that shown in Fig. 1, the lines a a in Figs. 1 and 2 beingthe points of juncture. Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section of themachine, showing the discharge end thereof, the part in Fig. 3 beingjoined to the part in Fig. 2 at the lines 6 b of said views. Fig. 4 isan enlarged plan view of the front end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a planView of the section of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a planview of the section shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 6 being joined to Fig. 5 atthe lines o c of such views. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the part of themachine shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 being joined to Fig. 6 at the lines (I dof said views. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 isa section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 12is a section on the line 12 12 of Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is a fragmentaryelevation showing one of the plaster-feeding belts. Fig. 14 is asectionon the line 14: 14 of Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 isafragmentary elevationalview looking in the direction of the arrow 15 in Fig. 3 and showing thegear for the fly.

In this specification I shall not go into the details of the variousframe parts and the gears for driving the mobile elements. These partsare outlined in the drawings, and since they relate to more matters ofshop construction it is not necessary that they be fully described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and S, the dry plaster is first placed in a hopper15, which may be divided into a number of separate compartments or whichmay be merely one hopper, with the zigzag bottom indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 1. This hopper is formed with a number of outlets 16.According to the construction shown these are four in number. Arrangedover each outlet is a conveyorscrew 17, which is provided with right andleft hand threads feeding the plaster to the respective openings. Fromthe openings 16 the plaster falls upon a number of transverse belts 18,carried on suitable drums 19 and'20. These belts pass transversely fromthe hopper 15, and the upper run of each belt is depressed into awater-tank 21 by idler-rolls 22..

(See Figs. 4 and 8.) The plaster lying on the belts 18 is thus submergedin the water of the troughs or pans 21 and is wetted thereby. For thepurpose of agitating the plaster during the wetting operation andinsuring that this operation is thoroughly performed I provide over eachpan or trough 21 a transverse shaft 23, suitably mounted in the framingof the machine. This shaft is pressed in one direction by an expansivespring 24, coiled around it, (see Fig. 13,) and in the other directionit is driven by a crown-cam On the shaft 23 are arranged a number ofagitating-fingers 26, which are moved by the cam 25 back and forthtransversely across the corresponding belt 18. The cam 25 is mounted torotate and is driven by belts or other suitable gear, as illustrated.These agitators 26, working in the manner explained, thoroughly break upthe plaster and insure the complete wetting thereof. They also serve tospread the plaster out upon the belt 18, on which it passes from thewater-pans in the manner indicated best in Fig. 4.

The belts or aprons 18 lead to an apron 27, which extends longitudinallywith the ma chine and is carried on drums 28, suitably mounted anddriven to d rive the belt or apron 27 in the direction of the arrow Ctin Fig. 1. Supported at the front end of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 5)is a reel 29, carrying a web of the fabric used in the construction ofthe board. This fabric may be of any suitable sort. For most work it ispreferable to use Wool fiber fabric, such as is commonly employed in thebuilding trades. From the reel 29 this fabric passes perforating-rolls30, arranged at the front end of the apron 27, and thence under aguide-roll 31, which leads the web of paper or fabric down immediatelyover the apron 27. The fabric passes from the perforator 30 over theapron 27 and receives the plaster from the first belt 18that is to say,the leftwardmost belt in Fig. 1. Arranged over the machine (see Fig. 1)are four reels 32, suitably supported and carrying four webs of fabricsimilar to the fabric carried by the reel 29. The fabric passes from thereels 32 downward through perforators 33 and under guide-rollers 34, thefabrics passing each between a pair of belts or aprons 18. It thereforewill be seen that I provide five webs of fabric and four aprons forfeeding the plaster, so that plaster is placed upon the upper side offour of the webs of fabric, thus forming the plaster-board of alternatelayers of fabric and plaster, the top and bottom faces of the boardbeing covered with a fabric web. Arranged immediately rearward of therespective aprons 18 are pairs of presser-rolls 35, which are suitablymounted in position transverse to the apron 27 and lying one above andone below the top run of this apron. These rolls 35 are suitably driven,and the Webs of fabric from the reels 32 pass, respectively,between themembers of the pairs of presser-rollers, so that as each addition ismade to the plaster-board the web or fabric added immediately passesthrough the presser -rolls, and the whole structure is pressed firmlytogether, forcing the plaster thoroughly into the perforations formed inthe webs of fabric. As shown best in Fig. 5, I provide at a side edge ofthe apron 27 a guideapron 36, which runs along the edges of theplasterboard during the time of its assemblage and which prevents theplaster from being squeezed out of the side edges of the board, theguide-aprons 36 engaging the side edges of the plaster-board and causingthem to be formed true.

As the wet plaster is'delivered from the aprons or belts 18 it isremoved therefrom by scrapers 37. (Shown best in Figs. 13 and 14.) Thesescrapers lie directly under the drums 20, which lie over the apron 27,and are suitably supported from the framing of the machine, so that asthe aprons 27 turn past the scrapers the latter thoroughly remove fromthe aprons all of the plaster which might otherwise adhere thereto.Owing to the gummy nature of the plaster it is necessary to take specialprecautions against clogging the parts of the machine, and for avoidingthis clogging of the scrapers 37 I provide cleaningfingers 38,

which are one for each scraper and arranged to play over the facesthereof, as shown in the figures mentioned above, (Figs. 13 and 14.)These cleaning-fingers 38 are sustained to move transversely of theaprons 18 by means of transverse rods 39, suitably mounted on theframing of the machine, and for driving the scraping-fingers I provideright and left hand screws 40, mounted transversely in the framing ofthe machine and engaged by the forked portions41ofthescraping-fingers.Thescrews 40 are revolubly driven by suitable gearing, as illustrated,and owing to the well-known action of these mutilated screws 40 thecleaningfingers 38 will be caused to move continuously back and forthacross the scrapers 37. As the plaster falls from the belts 18 onto theWebs of fabrics it is spread out evenly over the Webs by means ofspreaders 42. These spreaders are in the form of horizontally-disposedrods arranged to be revolubly driven over the faces and in the plane ofthe webs of the fabric. The scrapers are carried on vertical spindlessuitably mounted in the framing of the ma chine and driven by gearing ofany convenient sortfor example, that indicated in the drawings. As theplaster board is thus formed and carried ofiof the apron 27 it passesbetween two feeding-rolls 43, which are arranged one above and one belowthe board and suitably mounted in the frame. These rolls are driven tofeed the board forwardly and are best illustrated in Fig. 1. From therolls 43 the board passes upon an apron 44. (Illustrated best in Fig.2.) This apron is mounted in the framing of the machine and drivencontinuously in the direction of the arrow bin Fig. 2. As the boardpasses over this apron the plaster is given time to set, and thus theboard assumes its rigid form. Transverse idler-rollers 45 are mounted inthe frame under the top run of the belt or apron 44 to sustain this runin a true horizontal plane, and thus form the board perfectly true asthe plaster sets. From the apron 44 the board passes between pairs ofcircular knives 46. (See Figs. 2 and 9.) These knives are arranged intwo pairs, one at each edge of the plaster-board, and in acting on theboard they trim off the side edges thereof to form them true andregular. carrying the knives 46, (see Fig. 9,) are suitably mounted inthe framing of the machine and driven by gearing, as illustrated best inFig. 6. From the knives 46 the board passes to circularscalloping-knives 48, Which are two in number, one at each edge of theboard and arranged 011 a shaft 49, passing over the plaster-board.Working with the scallopingknives 48 is a roll 50, against which theknives bear. These knives are revolubly driven as the plaster-boardpasses under them, and they act' to scallop the edges of the board, asindicated in Fig. 6. From the scallopingknives 48 the board passes to arotary transverse perforator 51. This perforator, as best shown in Fig.11, consists in a frame-bar car- The shafts 47,

IIC

upon the speed of the movement of the belt.

and the perforator and may be regulated at will. From the perforator 51the board is fed to a rotary knife 55. (See Figs. 2 and 12.) This knifeis carried on a shaft 56, suitably mounted in the frame and revolublydriven. The knife 55 works with a roll 57 placed beneath theplaster-board, and this knife is timed to act with the perforator 51, sothat each cut of the knife is made directly in a line of perforationsformed by the perforator 51. The result, therefore, is the formation ofa number of rectangular plaster-boards, all of the edges of which arescalloped, as shown in Fig. 7, it being understood that the knife 55,cutting through the lines of perforations formed by the perforator 51,leaves the board with scalloped edges. Between the rear end of the apron44 and to a point immediately beyond the knife 55 the board is notcarried on an apron, but is guided by the various devices shown in Figs.9 to 12. The plaster at this time is set completely, and the board issufliciently rigid to sustain itself.

As the sections of the plaster-board are projected rearward from theknife 55 they pass onto the front end of an apron 58 and under adrawing-roll 59, which is revolubly driven, so as to draw the sectionsof the plasterboard onto the apron. A transverse idlerroll 60 may beprovided for sustaining the sections of the plaster-board as they passbetween the knife 55 and roll 59. The belt or apron 58 is drivencontinuously in the direction of the arrow 0 in Figs. 3 and 7, and thespeed of this belt should be greater than the speed of the belts 44 and27, so that the separate sections of plaster-board will be readilycarried toward the end of the machine. The apron 58 delivers theplaster-boards to a fly 61, which throws the boards off onto a truck 82,carried on an elevator, which will be hereinafter described. The fly 61is mounted to swing throughout a half-circle around the axis of ashaft62, on which is carried a toothed sector 63, in mesh with a similar gear64, arranged below it and fastened on a shaft 65, parallel with theshaft 62. This shaft is driven with a continuous rotary movement. Asshown in Figs. 3 and 15, the shaft 62, carrying the fly, is providedwith toes 80, which are fast thereto, and when the fly is thrown overthe car 82 these toes 80 strike springbuffers 81 on a horizontal bar 83,arranged below the shaft 62.

84 indicates a weighted arm which is attached to the shaft 62 and whichwhen the fly 61 lies in the position shown in Fig. 3 projects downwardfrom the shaft. (See Fig. 15.) As the gear 64 turns into mesh with thegear 63, it throws the fly over the car 82, and then the arms or toes 80strike the spring buffers 81. WVhen this takes place, the gear 64 runsoff the gear 63 and the springs 81 start the fly back. This action isthen taken up by the arm 84, which completes the return of the fly.

67 indicates an elevator-frame, in which is arranged a platform 68, hungon cables 69, passing over sheaves 70 at the top of the frame 67 andover drums 71 at the lower part thereof. These drums 71 are carried inpairs on horizontally-disposed axial shafts and are connectedbymiter-gearing 72 (see Fig. 7) with a drive-shaft 73. (See Figs. 3 and7.) This drive-shaft is provided with a hand-crank 74 for manualoperation, and fastened to the shaft 73 is a ratchet-wheel 75, withwhich works .a fork 76, carrying a pawl. This fork is rockably drivenbya rod 77, connected with a crank-shaft 78, arranged at the top of theelevator-frame and driven revolubly by any suitable gear. As the shaft78 turns it imparts a step-by-step movement to the shaft 73, andconsequently to the drums 71, and this movement is arranged to steadilylower the platform 68. The shaft 78 is driven in time with the movementof the fly 61, so that each time a plaster-board is placed on the truck62 the platform 68 is lowered a distance equal to the thickness of thisboard. This operation is kept up until the platform 68 reaches thebot-tom of the elevator frame or shaft, and then the operation of themachine should be arrested, so that the truck 82 may be wheeled ofi ofthe platform 68 and emptied of its load. The truck is then replaced onthe platform, and by manually driving the shaft 73 through the medium ofthe crank 74 the platform 68 may be again elevated to the position shownin Fig. 3 and the operation of the machine resumed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of a water-trough, an apron passingthrough the same and carrying material therein to wet it, and anagitator driven transversely across the apron within the trough.

2. The combination of an apron serving to carryplastic material, ascraper engaging the apron to clean it, and a cleaning-finger drivenacross the face of the scraper, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of an apron serving to carry plastic material, ascraper arranged to engage the apron to clean it, a cleaning-fingermovable across the face of the scraper, and a right and left handthreaded or mutilated screw engaging the cleaning-finger, the screwbeing revolubly driven to impart a back-andforth movement to thecleaning-finger.

4. In a machine for making plaster-boards, the combination of a hopperfor containing the dry plaster, an apron carrying the plaster from thehopper, a water-pan through which the apron passes to wet the plaster,an agitator driven over the apron within the trough, and means at thedischarge end of the apron for applying the wetted plaster to a fabricweb.

5. The combination of a fly, mutilated gears for driving the fly in onedirection, a spring for starting its return, and a weight for completingthe return of the fly.

6. The combination of a fly, means for driving the fly in one direction,a spring for starting the return of the fly, and a weight for completingsaid return.

7. In a machine for making plaster-boards, the combination of a hopperfor containing the drying plaster, an apron passing therefrom, a waterpan or trough through which the apron passes towetthe plaster, a secondapron moving transversely to the first apron and adapted to carry websof fabric in which the wetted plaster is deposited, and a spreaderworking over the face of the second apron to spread the material on thefabric Web.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK RYAN.

Witnesses:

I. B. OWENS, JNO. M. BITTER.

